The main contributor to the increase in housing costs this quarter was the increase in the price of electricity (+11.4%) followed by water and sewerage (+14.1%), house purchase (+1.1%), property rates and charges (+5.7%), rents (+1.2%), gas and other household fuels (+2.7%) and house repairs and maintenance (+0.8%).

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the housing group rose 5.5%, with the main contributors being rents (+6.2%), electricity (+15.6%), water and sewerage (+14.9%) and house purchase (+1.7%).

TRANSPORTATION (+1.9%)

The main contributor to the increase in transportation costs this quarter was the rise in the price of automotive fuel (+4.0%). Other motoring charges (+4.8%), motor vehicle repair and servicing (+0.9%), motor vehicles (+0.4%), motor vehicles parts and accessories (+0.9%) and urban transport fares (+0.8%) all recorded increases.

Automotive fuel rose in April (+1.2%), fell in May (-0.2%), rose in June (+4.7%), fell in July (-0.2%), rose in August (+2.7%) and fell in September (-1.9%).

The following graph shows the pattern of the average daily prices for unleaded petrol for the eight capital cities over the last fifteen months.

The major contributor to the increase in financial and insurance services this quarter was deposit and loan facilities (+3.0%). Insurance services (+2.8%) was also positive. Other financial services (-2.3%) provided an offsetting decrease.

There was a rise in the price of services charged by financial institutions including services where prices are principally derived from interest-rate margins. The impact on prices varied across the range of products covered in the CPI. The ABS continues to review the outlets, products and their weights in the CPI basket to ensure they are representative and contemporary.

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the financial and insurance services group fell 7.2%, driven by a 17.0% fall in deposit and loan facilities and 0.5% drop for other financial services. This was offset by increases in insurance services (+8.8%).

RECREATION (+0.7%)

The rise in recreation this quarter was mainly due to price rises for pets, pet foods and supplies (+5.4%), sports participation (+2.1%), other recreation activities (+1.7%) and audio, visual and computing media and services (+0.8%). The major offsets was provided by audio, visual and computing equipment (-2.2%).

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the recreation group rose 0.1%. This rise was mainly due to other recreation activities (+5.5%) and pets, pet food and supplies (+14.2%). Overseas holiday travel and accommodation (-5.1%), audio, visual and computing equipment (-8.5%) and domestic holiday travel and accommodation (-2.6%) provided the major offsets.

ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO (+0.7%)

The alcohol and tobacco group recorded a rise of 0.7% in the September quarter 2009, with rises in beer (+1.4%), spirits (+1.4%) and wine (+0.9%).

The rises in beer and spirit prices were mainly due to the effect of the federal excise from August 2009. The rise in wine was largely due price rises and the cessation of specials. The fall in tobacco (-0.1%) was mainly a result of price reductions and store specials in most cities.

Over the 12 months to September quarter 2009, the alcohol and tobacco group rose 4.0%.

HOUSEHOLD CONTENTS AND SERVICES (+0.6%)

The household contents and services group rose 0.6% this quarter with ten of thirteen categories recording rises. The most significant upward contributors were major household appliances (+1.7%) and furniture (+0.5%). Off-setting decreases came from toiletries and personal product (-0.5%) and towels and linen (-0.4%).

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the household contents and services group rose 4.0%. This increase was predominantly due to rises in furniture (+4.8%), other household supplies (+5.4%) and floor and window coverings (+6.2%). Only towels and linen (-1.1%) recorded a negative annual movement.

CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR (+0.3%)

The rise in clothing and footwear this quarter was due to increases in women's footwear (+3.3%), children's and infants' clothing (+1.7%) and men's underwear, nightwear & socks (+4.1%). Men's outerwear (-0.9%) registered the largest offsetting movement.

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the clothing and footwear group rose 2.3%. The increase was mainly due to rises in accessories (+6.7%) and women's underwear, nightwear and hosiery (+10.2). Women's footwear (-1.2%) recorded the largest offsetting fall.

FOOD (-0.8%)

The food group fell 0.8% in the September quarter 2009. The two most significant food group contributors were vegetables (-5.6%) and fruit (-5.4%), both of which benefited from peak growing seasons and favourable weather patterns. The most significant off-setting price rises came from take away and fast foods (+0.8%), food additives and condiments (+1.4%) and poultry (+1.4%).

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, eighteen of the twenty six food categories rose to create a 2.5% rise across the food group. Increases were mainly driven by general price rises in take away and fast foods (+5.1%), restaurant meals (+3.2%), snacks and confectionery (+4.2%) and soft drinks waters and juices (+3.9%). Vegetables (-3.8%) and fruit (-2.6%) recorded the most significant negative price movements.

HEALTH (-1.0%)

The major contributors to the fall in the health costs this quarter were pharmaceuticals (-4.4%) and hospital and medical services (-0.1%). Dental services (+0.7%) provided the main offset.

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the health group rose 4.4% due to increases in hospital and medical services (+5.4%), dental services (+4.2%) and pharmaceuticals (+2.3%).

COMMUNICATION (+0.0%)

The flat movement in communication costs this quarter was due to no significant movement for telecommunication (0.00%). A small rise was recorded in postal (+1.8%).

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the communication group rose 1.0%.

EDUCATION GROUP (+0.0%)

The education group reported no change in the September quarter 2009. The only movement was an increase in the preschool and primary education (+0.1%) driven by a small increase in preschool fees.The movement was not enough to influence the group level figure.

Over the twelve months to September quarter 2009, the education group rose 5.6%.

TRADABLES AND NON-TRADABLES

The tradables component (see table 8) of the All groups CPI rose 0.2% in the September quarter 2009. Prices for the goods and services in this component are largely determined on the world market. The tradables component represents approximately 42% of the weight of the CPI. The rise in the tradable goods component was driven by increases in automative fuel, pets, pet food and supplies, women's footwear, major household appliances, spirits and wine. The most significant offsetting falls were in vegetables and fruit. The only tradable services component, overseas holiday travel and accommodation, rose 0.7%.

The non-tradables component of the All groups CPI rose 1.5% in the September quarter 2009. Prices for the goods and services in this component are largely determined by domestic price pressures. The non-tradables component represents approximately 58% of the CPI. Within non-tradables, the services component rose 0.9%, due to deposit and loan facilities, property rates and charges and rents. The most significant offsetting movement was other financial services. The non-tradable goods component rose 2.6% mainly due to price increases for electricity, water and sewerage and house purchase. The most significant offsetting movement was cakes and biscuits.

Through the year to September quarter 2009, non-tradables rose 2.3% and tradables showed a drop of 0.5%. This compares to non-tradables rising 2.4% and tradables showing zero percentage change, respectively, for these components through the year to June quarter 2009. The main drivers in non-tradables were rents, electricity, hospital and medical services, take away and fast foods, insurance services, water and sewerage and house purchase. The largest offsetting movement was in deposit and loan facilities. Automotive fuel and overseas holiday travel and accommodation were the main contributors to the drop in tradables. An increase for tobacco and furniture offering a partial offset.